June 30, 2010

Zhao Wei is reportedly returning to Gordon Chan’s follow up to Painted Skin but Chen Kun is said to have declined to participate. (21cn)

Hong Kong media reports that Jet Li will begin shooting Tony Ching Siu-Tung’s White Snake in August and then in September he will join in Tsui Hark’s New Dragon Inn cast. Polybona is said to be willing to pay Jet who earned no salary for Ocean Paradise a hefty US$12M fee. Zhou Xun, Chen Kun and Guei Lun-Mei have already been attached to the $300M yuan project. Donnie Yen is said to have turned down a role as he was busy and did not want to reprise his role. [And maybe a feud with Jet Li?] (21cn)

The film, entitled “Da Moshu Shi” (”Great Magician”), is a story about two childhood sweethearts set during the early part of the twentieth century. Yee had intended to keep the film a secret until it was discovered by the Guangzhou Daily. Information about the film was found on the Web site of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT).

Tony Leung is set to play the role of the intelligent illusionist, while Cheung will play a concubine to a warlord.

Earlier Cecilia had attended actor-director Stephen Chow’s CJ7 2 press conference and the two was reportedly discussing plans for a sequel to King of Comedy.

Zhang Jiabei’s latest film, Midnight Hearbeat or Midnight Pulse, is inspired by classmateTakashi Miike’s horror stylings. The film stars Simon Yam and Francis Ng. Currently in post-production in Japan after completion in February, the supporting cast also includes four rising female stars: Yao Di, Li Nian, Liu Yuxin and Yang Yuyu. A synopsis says the film is about bizarre murders in a hospital ICU. A September release is planned. (Sina), 2, 3 [Thanks, to V]